Spinal brace



Nov. 29, 1927.

H. PII-:PER 1650650 SPINAL BRAGE Filed Deo. 4, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Man 7.

Nov. 29, 19H1 H. PIEPE SPINAL BRACE Filed Dec. 4. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Net. ze, 1927.' 1

HERMANPIEPER; or sr; Louis, `Missoula; j

. senaat simon.l I

Application.lediDeeeinber 4,:,19249 SeriaL No; 7535893;

ThisajnventionM relates to improvements in i a'Av spinal: brace; especially; f adaptables for crookedspineswand;forigradually straightenL` iiigfvtheesame; andzh as ifor its4 object arineans 1 5;? soiconstrnrcted asto be supported around the waist` of; the ifhuman body; an tilting; back frame broughti in;` communication with the.` backpf; the. shoulders and;extending'v` under j the arms?andismid.` device being equipped lo: with kmeans whereby-` vert-ical; adj ustmentk may be accomplished, aswell, astoiuzcoin-` modiitefiaiipeculiar;tiltedfor angular position of the shoulders, as well as a twisted position, and by this means the spinal brace may be adjusted to accommodate any peculiar twist or position or curvature of the spine.

A further object of my invention is to construct a spinal brace with as few parts as possible and to dispense witha great portion of covering which is ordinarily used in connection with the present style of `spinal braces, but the most important feature is the means of vertical, lateral and tilted adjustment.

Figure l, is a perspective view of my improved spinal brace showing the same in position on the patient.

Fig. 2, is a front view of my improved spinal brace.

Fig. 8, is an enlarged det-ail combined front and sectional view of the upper portion of the vertical support showing the means of tilting and lateral adjustment.

F ig. l, is a detail front view of the lower portion of the supporting post showing the means for vertical adjustment.

Fig. 5, is a sectional view of the same. Fig. 6, is a side view of my complete spinal brace.

Fig. 7, is a front view of the upper portion of the brace showing the tilting adjust-` ing means likewise showing the back frame in tilted position by dotted lines.

In the general construction of my invention I provide a waist band or beltrS, the same being preferably constructed of sole leather. To the same is attached a metallic` band 9 which extends partially around ythe waist band or belt and to the same is firmly attached a rack bar 10. f

This bar extends intoa cavity l1 formed in the bottom end of the supporting post 1 2 and in the supporting post is axially mounted a shaft 13 on which is supported a gear pinion 14. One of the projecting ends of the shaft 18 is provided with a key head 15 may be appliedaniordi-ilaryI key; f or socket wrench as that indicated bvadotted lines-LA. j i In thel upper` end of the supporting/post! 60` lsprofvided la boreli which actsy as aisocketr for! the lreception ofithev spindleend 17` of vthea pivotzpost 18;- anduontthis post` is,-firinly at' tached a socket cap 19t which flits over.` thefupsf per end of the post 12, and in thesocketi'is 65 provided` a t thumb screwy 20,? which when tightened;locks.l the: pifvot'ipost in its proper` adjusted:positions i u Y On the top of the pivot post is attached a plate'2l the upper edge being provided with a segmental rack 22, the same being designedto mesh with theteeth of a worm 23 mounted on the shaft 24 which is supported in the cylindrical housing 25 formed on the pivot plate 26, and which plate is pivotally connected to the plate 21 bymeans of the bolt of screw 27.

Radiating from the cylindrical housing is an extension plate 28 which is firmly connected to the tilting back frame 29.

. The back frame 29 is suitably bent to conform to the back of the patient, and said frame terminates into a pair of arm supports 30 which are rounded and preferably covered with leatheror. suitable padding' so as 85 to prevent irritating the body, and these. varms supports 30 are designed to be brought in close contact with the body under the arm pits.

The free ends are provided with suitable loops'Sl to which a shoulder strap 32 is attached and these straps are brought over the shoulder of the patient and held firmly by means ofthe buckles 33.

In order to adjust the tilting back `frame to a. peculiar twist to the upper part of the body, the socket wrench or key A is applied to the key projection 34e-and by turning the shaft 24; the worm which is in mesh with the segmental rack 221 will cause the back frame to assume a tilted position as shown by dotted lines inFig. 7. This tilted position may be either to the rightor left as the occasion requires. And' in order toaccommodate a twisted back the device is adjusted by means of the pivot post and in order to ac? coininodate the height as well as toremove the weight from the spine the vertical adjustment is accomplished by means of the manipulation of the rack and pinion 14.

When the vertical adjustment is accomplished the same is prevented from slipping nar; 7^ s out ofv its adjusted position by means of thumb vset screw 35. The same being brought in Contact with the edge of the rack.

The waist band or belt is held in proper l position around the Waist and hips of the patient by means of the strap and buckle connection 36. l

Theessential feature'of my invention is to construct a brace which can be adjusted 10 to accommodate any and all curvaturesof bar attached to said band, a hollow post titting over the rack bar, agear pinion su ported by the post and in mesh with the rac a pivot post supported on the hollow post, a 25 segmental racli forming the top of the pvot post, a tilting back frame, and means Whereby the said frame may be tilted to and held in the desired position.

2. A device of the character described 30 comprising a waist band, a rack attached thereto, a 'socketed extension arm fitting over the rack, a pinion carried by the socketed arm engaging the raclqa segmental rack swivelingly connected to said socketed arm, 35 a back supporting frame connected-to the segmental rack arm and so arranged as toy be placed in any tilted position, and a means for retaining the saine in such position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my 40 name to this specification.

HERMAN PIEPER. 

